Pressing element



Jan. 26, 1937. J. M. D EWEY PRESSING ELEMENT Filed Aug. 29, 1935 INVENTOR JAMES M. DEWEY 1 W 57/ ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 26, 1937 PRESSING ELEMENT James M. Dewey, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwocd, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 29, 1935, Serial No. 38,395

Claims. (Cl. 38-25) This invention relates to a pressing element for pressing machines and more particularly for machines in which moist articles are pressed and formed, and especially where such pressing operation is accompanied by heat. The invention is applied particularly to that form of pressing element in which a flexible cover member is expanded or distended to cause relative pressure against a heated pressing head and my invention provides a novel protecting covering over the expansible cover member to protect the same against heat and moisture during a pressing operation.

Presses of the type described are used for pressing and ironing moist articles, such as wearing apparel wherein the bed member is not heated but the pressing head is heated to a fairly high degree of temperature. The head is brought into position adjacent the bed and the distensible cover member on the bed raises the article to be pressed into engagement with the heated head. These distensible cover members generally include rubber as one of their constituent materials and the rubber is quite severely attacked by the combination of heat and moisture to which it is subjected during a pressing operation. It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a protective covering over such a rubber-bearing cover member to preserve the same against deterioration.

The drawing shows a partial end elevation of a pressing machine with the pressing bed in section to more clearly show the novel construction of my improved pressing element.

While I have chosen to illustrate and describe my invention as applied to a pressing bed, it will be understood that it is equally applicable to any pressing member no matter what its position and where I hereinafter describe certain portions as lying over other portions thereof I do not intend this term to mean that such members he vertically above other members but merely that they are outside of the members which they enclose. In other words, it is my purpose to supply a protective covering over an expansible diaphragm or bag pressure producing member to protect the same against moisture and heat no matter what the relative position of the pressing members may be.

In the form shown, the pressing bed comprises a base over which extends a flexible distensible and substantially fluid tight cover member I I which is secured at its edges I2 to the base in a fluid tight joint. For a pressing operation motive fluid is supp-lied through conduit i3 to the space H! between the base and the cover member to expand and distend the latter for causing a pressing or ironing operation with a coacting pressing head !5 which during such pressing operation is held adjacent the bed in a manner 5 to resist pressure. The structure by which such pressing heads are manipulated is well known to those slnlled in the art and it is not necessary here to illustrate the same. Heat is supplied to such a pressing head through suitable conduit 10 means i6 which, for instance, may supply steam to a hollow portion of the head. The cover member H ordinarily is composed of rubber or rubberized fabric and it is my purpose to provide protective means to prevent deterioration thereof.

Adjacent the cover member I I I provide a layer ll of heat resisting material which may be asbestos or other suitable material. Over that layer I supply moistureproof material as at I8 which may be a rubberized cloth or other suitable moistureprooi material. The rest of the padding and cover means may be varied at will and often includes cellulose padding l9 and a cover cloth 20 all of which is held taut by suitable springs 2 I.

I find a very suitable protective covering may be provided by combining the layers I1 and I8 into a single Web in which the moistureproofing is applied as a coating to the heat resisting layer.

As an example of a suitable form of such material a cloth or fabric marketed under the name of 3 Revolite provides a suitable heat resisting material with a moistureproof coating.

I find that a pressing element of this type when constructed according to my disclosure has greatly lengthened the life of the rubber-bearing distensible cover member due to the fact that the protective covering greatly reduces the heat which passes through to the distensible cover member and the moistureproof covering not only keeps moisture away from the distensible cover member but when applied in the form shown in the drawing also keeps the heat resisting material dry and in good condition.

What I claim is:

1. A pressing element comprising a base, a flexible distensible substantially fluid-tight cover member over said base, and covering means over said member including a layer of heat resisting material and a layer of moisture proof material, said heat resisting layer being nearer the cover member.

2. A pressing element comprising a base, a flexible distensible substantially fluid-tight cover member secured at its edges to said base, said cover member including rubber, and cover means for protecting said member including a layer of said member including a layer of heat resisting heat resisting material adjacent the cover member and a layer of substantially moisture proof material outside said heat resisting layer.

3. A pressing element comprising a base, a flexible distensible substantially fluid-tight cover member secured at its edges to said base, said cover member including rubber, and cover means for protecting said member including a layer of asbestos material adjacent the cover member and a moisture proof layer thereover.

4. A pressing element comprising a base, a flexible distensible substantially fluid-tight cover member secured at its edges to said base, said CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,068,645. January 26, 1937.

JAMES M. DEWEY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 2, claim 2, strike out the words "said member including a layer of heat resisting"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office,

Signed and sealed this 9th day of March, A. D. 1957.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

